Close Enough To Pluck the Stars” (GL) - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

For many days, Liang Ke appeared deeply preoccupied during her work breaks. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month.

Retaining her habits from her student days, she referred to work breaks as “between classes.” During these times, she insisted on drinking tea—specifically, the cheapest “fetal chrysanthemum” dregs that cost ten yuan a bag.

This habit was well-known to many. The young girl Luo Han had now teamed up with Ye Tianze, losing her innocent and simple nature. The two of them, acting in collusion, intercepted Liang Ke in the pantry and kidnapped her to the stairwell of the fire escape.

Liang Ke asked, “What? What are you doing? If it’s money you want, I don’t have any.”

“You misunderstand. We’re just frustrated by your lack of initiative,” Ye Tianze said, blocking the fire door.

Luo Han asked, “Are you really not planning to investigate the competition accident anymore?”

Liang Ke looked back and forth between the two of them, asking warily, “What, are you two planning to turn yourselves in? Confession is a good thing; I’ll fight for leniency for you.”

“Forget it. Don’t forget you’re a suspect too; no one in the lab is completely cleared,” the two of them said, flanking her. “But the internal investigation has yet to start, and the relevant evidence hasn’t been sealed. We’re worried the leaders are too busy with ‘important affairs’ and will forget this matter, letting the culprit go free.”

Liang Ke still appeared hesitant.

Ye Tianze asked, “Do you not trust your brothers?”

Luo Han coughed. “And sisters.”

“Right, and sisters,” Ye Tianze said. “Look, I’ll tell you the truth. As the temporary group leader, I’m overwhelmed. Every time Dr. Shu calls a meeting, the pace is fast, the tasks are many, and every single point hits a nerve—it’s analytical and perfectly linked. Under these circumstances, Luo Han and I can only find time to care about your business purely out of love.”

Luo Han glared at him.

“Don’t be mad. It’s pure platonic sibling love,” Ye Tianze looked back at Luo Han firmly.

Liang Ke was moved, but she still declined, saying she would handle it herself.

“Are you treating us like strangers? I’m your superior now. Since Dr. Shu arrived, your daily workload hasn’t been anything to scoff at.” Ye Tianze wondered, “Given your relationship with the leader, you should be doing better than us. Even if there’s no special treatment, you shouldn’t be in such a mess.”

“There is no ‘relationship’,” Liang Ke quickly interrupted him. “She is just temporarily renting a room at my house.”

“Heh, renting? How much is the monthly rent?”

Liang Ke introduced her woes: “I haven’t collected rent yet, but she’s covering the water, electricity, gas, and property fees. It’s actually saved me from a financial crisis.”

“Exactly. Dr. Shu is generally strict with others, but she’s ruthless with you. Even Sister Wu is starting to find it hard to watch,” Luo Han added.

“Sister Wu?”

“Wu Chuchu,” Ye Tianze explained. “She has a strong desire for fame and fortune, but she’s a genuine management talent. Also, have you noticed? Whenever something involves you, Sister Wu gets very excited and finds it hard to stay calm.”

“Could she be…” Luo Han speculated worriedly.

Liang Ke suddenly gave her a light swat on the back of the head. “Stop that terrifying train of thought. Get back on a normal track.”

Ye Tianze asked, “Promise us first that you’ll help with the investigation. I’m afraid you’ll drop dead one day. Handling a young person’s funeral is not a good job; it would make me sad.”

Just then, the fire door was pushed open forcefully, revealing a face with green eyeglass frames. “Why the sadness?”

Ye Tianze turned his head and said mournfully, “Because I have to collect Liang Ke’s body.”

“Pah, pah, pah!” Luo Han yanked his right hand and shook it. Ye Tianze realized his mistake and spat “pah” along with her. Eventually, the senior with the glasses joined in.

Liang Ke looked at them and said, “Materialists shouldn’t act like this.”

“I don’t care. Bottom line: nothing can happen to you. We can’t be here without you.” Ye Tianze huffed and walked out, while Luo Han politely took her leave. The senior with the green frames had come for a smoke and incidentally told Liang Ke that a senior sister from the Agriculture Department was looking for her frantically.

Liang Ke then remembered that Shu Qingchen had taken in Professor M’s wife and daughter that night and arranged for them to stay in her apartment. People could stay, but geese could not—there were strict regulations. Thus, Liang Ke had run around, overcoming her great aversion to the animal, to find a foster home for it at the College of Agriculture.

As soon as she ran to the lab building, the senior sister waved from upstairs: “Over here! You’re finally here.”

“What’s wrong?”

“This goose is unusual. It eats so much!” the sister introduced with heartache. “It’s even cutting into my own rations.”

“Oh, oh…” Liang Ke rummaged through her pockets and found three crumpled dinner vouchers for the third-floor cafeteria. She said pitifully, “I’m really struggling financially this month.”

“Who wants your money?” The sister turned shy, blackmailing her subtly. “As the saying goes, ‘Biochem, Environment, Materials are craters.’ There’s no chance of me escaping this pit in this life; I just hope my future boyfriend will be a Computer Science major.”

“Mmh, that sounds nice,” Liang Ke agreed, puzzled.

“Ideally tall, handsome, and energetic,” the sister added her requirements.

“Mmh, yes, he should be.”

Seeing that Liang Ke wasn’t getting the hint, the sister asked bluntly, “In your department, there must be many who fit the bill, right?”

Liang Ke finally understood. She borrowed a pen from the sister and, without a word, wrote Ye Tianze’s phone number on the back of the dinner vouchers. Then, she took the goose’s leash and dashed away, shouting commands.

Well, “shouting commands” was mostly loud muttering, telling the goose to be good and not always think about fighting, or else threatening it with becoming “roast goose.”

Just as she exited the college gate, she saw Professor M’s SUV driving against the flow of traffic. Fortunately, this road was newly built, and traffic was sparse, reducing the chance of an accident.

The little girl who had been holding the goose that day was stumbling along the sidewalk. The tear stains on her face had been dried by the cold wind. Her expression was one of anger and stubbornness, as if she had just fought with someone.

Professor M finally lost his patience. He got out of the SUV, pulled his trench coat tight, and ran toward the girl with his belly jiggling. The child tried to dodge, but he grabbed her arm, leaving her only able to twist and cry out in struggle, “I’m not going back! Let me go! I want to find Mommy!”

“Your mom doesn’t want you anymore, and of course, I don’t want her either.” Professor M pinned his daughter with both hands, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Be good. Daddy will let that pretty auntie from the other day be your mommy, okay?”

The child froze for a moment, then struggled even more frantically, screaming even louder.

“Stop crying! If you aren’t good, I’ll send you back to that woman. She thinks you’re a burden—do you think I don’t!?”

Stimulated by this scene, the big goose in Liang Ke’s hand began to flap its wings wildly, jumping and hissing.

Professor M turned his head. Seeing Liang Ke, his bloodshot eyes filled with ferocity: “It’s you.”

Liang Ke had grown up with Liang Jiyue; she had no father of her own. What she had seen was either Boss Xiao—who looked tough but was easily handled by Xiao Xiaoxiao—or the type like Old Hu, who spoiled his students without principle. Seeing Professor M choking his daughter with such violent rage truly shattered her worldview.

“You’re hurting her, let go!” Liang Ke said, while doing her best to calm the agitated goose.

Professor M gripped tighter, sneering, “You certainly want to stick your nose into everything. Look at yourself—what kind of thing are you? What right do you have?”

The little girl’s voice was hoarse from crying. She reached out toward the big white goose.

“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!” Liang Ke hurried forward in anger, pulling out her phone. “If you don’t let her go, I’m calling the police or the security guards.”

The big white goose felt the leash loosen and immediately flopped its wings, rushing toward the little girl with total disregard.

“I’m teaching my own daughter a lesson, what’s it to you? If I’d known it wasn’t a son, I should have aborted… Argh!”

Professor M was still shouting at Liang Ke when he was caught off guard—the goose pecked the back of his hand.

In his pain, he flew into a total rage. He let go of his daughter, turned around, and roughly twisted the goose’s wing. He looked around for a handy weapon and finally locked his gaze on a sharp, hard piece of I-beam steel by the roadside.